Multiple contact switch



1959 I B. E. SHLESXNGER, JR 2,874,237

MULTIPLE CONTACT SWITCH Filed Dec. 3, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR EFF/wen 651M 22 Sims/paw Feb. 17, 1959 Filed Dec. 3, 1957 B. E. SHLESINGER, JR

MULTIPLE CONTACT SWITCH 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Efi/ } INVENTOR W b kf/mmww jaw m:

1959 B. E. SHLESINGER, JR 3 2 MULTIPLE CONTACT SWITCH Filed Dec. 5, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 qmgwm mm United States Patent MULTIPLE CONTACT SWITCH Bernard Edward Shlesinger, Jr., Falls Church, Va. Application December 3, 1957, Serial No. 700,354 33 (Ilaims. (Cl. 200-4) This invention relates to improvements in multiple contact switches and the like.

In the prior art, such as Reinschmidt, 2,472,230, switches of this nature have been limited to a definite number of contacts and combinations.

It is an object of this invention to provide a multiple contact rotary switch which has an unlimited number of combinations. It is a further object of this invention to provide a multiple contact switch which is compact and readily assembled. It is another object of this invention to provide a contact switch in which contact 9 by the rotary wiping member is'assured at all times.

It is an additional object of this invention to provide a contact switch which is simple in construction and inexpensive to manufacture.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a contact switch which may be used for programming, computing, aircraft and rockets and the like.

It is another object ofthis invention to provide a multiple switch which may be kept relatively free from dust and moisture.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a multiple switch having a rotary brush or wiper of coil configuration which coil exerts a lateral force against the sidewalls of the switch container in order to insure proper contact.

These and other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following description and claims.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate by way of example various embodiments of this invention:

Fig. 1 is a vertical. section View showing one embodiment of this invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1 showing the manner of mounting thcrotatable plate upon the shaft;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective partially in section showing the manner of mounting the rotatable plate upon the shaft;

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic topplan view of the gearing arrangement and indicia;

Fig. 5 is a vertical section showing a modification of this invention;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary perspective partially in section showing the manner of mounting the rotatable plate tothe shaft of the modification illustrated in Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a vertical section showing a further modification of this invention;

Fig. dis a diagram showing one arrangement of contacts, in'which three complete turns of the coil is used. The full line shows the coil fully extended and in one position and the broken line shows the coil under'com pression and in another position;

Fig. 9 is a diagram showing contact arrangements for a single turn of the coil at various stages of extension and compression; i

Fig. 10 is anenlarged fragmentary section showing a spring biased contact member;

Fig. 11 is an enlarged fragmentary view partially in section and partially in elevation showing a specially constructed coil member and its operational relationship to projecting contact points;

Fig. 12 is a sectional view of the coil member taken on line 12-12 of Fig. 11 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 13 is an enlarged fragmentary view of another modification of the coil;

Fig. 14 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken along the line 14-14 of Fig. 13 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 15 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational View of another modification of the coil;

Fig. 16 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 16-16 of Fig. 15 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

The switch comprises a cylindrical casing C of any suitable insulating material such as molded phenolic materials, nylon, etc. The casing C has one end closed by an integral wall 1, havinga central opening into which is molded a metal bushing 2 which has its external periphery 3 threaded to receive a suitable fastening nut 4 for mounting the switch on a panel member 5. The opposite end of the casing C has seated therein a closure member 6 which may be of the same material as the casing C and which may be fastened thereto in any convenient manner, for example, by threading cement or the like. 7

The member 6 has a central opening in which is molded a metal bearing sleeve 7.

Fastened to the inner face of the member 6 by suitable eyelets or rivets 8, is a metal disc 9 which is provided with an integral lug 10 extending through the member 8.

' Suitable contacts 11 are set in the casing C. The contacts 11 may be molded integrally therewith or may be inserted at any subsequent time. The contacts 11 extend through to the inside of the casing C.

A rotary sleeve or tubular shaft 20 has one end journaled in bearing sleeve 7 and the other end journaled in metal bushing 2. For the purpose of restraining the shaft 20 against lengthwise movement with respect to the casing, it is provided with annular grooves into which are fitted retainer rings 21 and 22 respectively. Tubular shaft 20 is provided at its upper end with a gear 23. Tubular shaft member .20 is cutout from both ends to provide flats 24, 25, 26 and 27 as best illustrated in Figures 2 and 3. The flats 24, 25, 26 and 27 register with a corresponding opening in insulating plate, disc, or wafer 28'.

A second shaft 36 is centrally threaded. The shaft 30 is journaled on tubular shaft 20 on bearing surfaces 31 and 32. The threaded portion of shaft 30 has no threads which project beyond the bearing surfaces 31 and 32 of shaft 39. The purpose of this is to prevent threading action of shaft 30 with shaft 20 in which it is journaled. As illustrated in Fig. 1, shaft 20 may be recessed interiorly as at 33 in order to prevent engage ment of the threads with'the inside of tubular shaft 20'. Another engagement (not shown) is to increase the diameter of journal surfaces 31- and 32. At one end of shaft 30 is an annular groove into which is fitted a retainer ring 34. At the other end of shaft 30 is a gear 35 having a button 36 mounted thereon. Between gear 23 and gear 35 is a spring 37 which maintains the two gears in spaced relationship with oneanother. A pin 38 on gear 35 engages in a recess 39 on gear 23 when the button 36 is pushed downwardly, thereby locking the gears together.

Mounted on the panel 5 is a rotatable gear 40 which is biased upwardly by spring at. Gear 40 meshes with gear 23. Also mounted on panel :"3 is a gear which is I! 6 spring biased by a spring 43. Gear 42 meshes with gear 35. The springs 41 and 43 may be eliminated if gears 40 and 42 are maintained at a fixed height by locking keys or splined shafts or the like (not shown).

In the modifications shown in Figs. 1 through 5, a contact coil 50 is secured at one end to insulated disc 28 as at 51. The other end'of coil 50 has a wiping contact 52 which travels in a groove 53 in metal disc 9.

Insulated plate 28 has matching threads which engage the threads of shaft 30. This is best illustrated in Fig. 2. The threads of shaft 30 project on either side and beyond the flats 24, 25, 26 and 27 to engage the threads of plate 28.

Fig. shows a slightly different modification than is illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. In Fig. 5 a mechanical pencil type arrangement is used. In this arrangement, shaft 30a comprises a helix 60 centrally located thereof. A pin 61 travels vertically within the tubular helix 60. Projecting pin members 62 and 63 formed in pin 61 project through the helix 60 and are secured in insulating plate 28a. The ends of the shaft 30a comprising the bearing surfaces 64 and 65 may be secured to the tubular helix 60 by welding, or the like.

In Fig. 7, coil 50b is secured at both ends. At the top end it is secured to plate 28b as at 51b and at the bottom end it is secured to plate 9b as at 52b. It is to be noted that the flats of tubular shaft 20b are helically wound as at 24b and 25b for reasons which will hereafter be explained.

Fig. 10 shows a modified contact 11a. Contact 1.1a has at its end a spring 70 secured thereto. At the other end of-spring 70 is a contact ball 71.

Fig. 11 shows a modification of coil 50. In this modification a coil 500 has wound upon it a coil 80. Coil 80 comprises a series of tighfly wound coils 81 located intermediate large coils 82. The distance between the large coils 82 should be less than the width of the contactpoints 11 in order to insure contact at all times. As illustrated in Fig. 11, coil 50c maintains its normal helix. However, the arrangement of tight coils 81 with large loose coils 82 permits individual deflection of the large loose coils 82 without deflection of coil 500 as illustrated in Fig. llwhen the coils 82 are deflected inwardly when passing over contacts 11.

The modifications shown in Figs. 13, 14, .15 and 16 are for the same purpose as illustrated in Fig. 11, i. e., to allow adequate contact without deflecting of the'main portion ofcoil 50. In Fig. 13, a-tubular coil member SM is provided instead of contact member 50. This tubular contact member is cut through a portion of the way to provide slots 90 thereby producing resilient fingers or members 91 capable of individually deflecting when coming in contact with raised contacts 11. Fig. shows arrangements similar to Fig. 13; however, the tubular design is not circular but rather jug-shaped. It is to be noted that the central portion 100 is very small and that the resilient fingers 101 are bowed to increase the individual flexibility of the fingers 101.

Operation From the foregoing description it will now be readily seen that upon rotation of shaft simultaneously with shaft 30, coil 50 will rotate without being placed under compression. This will change contacts from position A as illustrated in Fig. 9 to position a. (The contacts are indicated in Figs. 8 and 9, which figures are developed views of the cylinder wall of the casing C, by small circles.) If, however, shaft 30 is rotated independently of shaft 20, coil 50 will begin to compress since plate 28 is in threaded engagement with the threads of shaft 30. This will change the contacts from A position illustrated in Fig. 9 to B position or C position. Upon rotation now of the coil 50, a change will take place thereby changing the contacts from B or C positions to b or 1: positions as the single turn of the coil, reference should be made to Fig. 8 which shows multiple turns of the coil. In Fig. 8 the solid line shows a coil in fully extended position at posi' tion number 1 whereas the broken line shows the coil in a compressed position 4. v

Fig. 4 of the drawings is illustrative of various indicia placed around the gearing. The vertical numerals in the diagrams of Figures 8 and 9 represent numerals which could be placed about gear 42 to indicate the vertical position of the coil 50. The horizontal numerals in the diagrams of Figs. 8 and 9 represent numerals which could be placed about gear 40 to indicate the rotary position of the coil 50. A gear ratio should be established depending upon the number of turns, etc. It will be obvious that by making gear 42 larger than gear 35 a number of turns of gear 35 will be required to make one complete revolution of gear 42. In this manner one can position his coil to any particular location and know exactly the contacts involved. Indicia on gear 40 indicate the rotary position in which the coil is located. 1 Depression of button 36 disengages gear 35 from gear 42 permitting engagement of pin 38 with recess 30 thereby locking gear shafts 20 and 30 together without moving the indicia set up on gear 42. Any other suitable indicating arrangement can be utilized- Electrical or electro-mechanical devices or other mechanical expedients can be connected to shafts 20 and 30 in order to rotate them singly or simultaneously and such devices can be so constructed as to enable a person actuating the switch to determine the exact location of the coil 50 at all times. A motor driven shaft rotating mechanism could be utilized to permit remote operation of the switch. e

In Fig. 7, since the coil 50b is secured at both ends at 51a and 52b, the tubular shaft 20b must be helically wound at the flats 24b and 25b as illustrated in this figure in order to account for take-up upon compression of the coil. A limitation must be imposed on the rotation of shaft 20b in the modification illustrated in Figure 7, since the diameter of the coil 50b changes as it is rotated while remaining unchanged in height. Under these conditions, if shaft 20b were rotated in the proper direction, coil 50b would pull away from the cylinder wall of casing C and out of contact therewith. This may be desirable if one wants to compress the coil and by-pass certain contacts without shutting off the current coming into lug 10. It will be obvious in Figs. 1 and 5 that compression of the coil 50 will cause ball 52 tomove slightly with relation to connection 51. This take-up is illustrated in the graphs of Figs. 8 and 9. In plotting contact points, take-up must be considered when the coil is put under compression. The take-up is made in Fig. 7 by permitting the disc 28b to begin to wind-up as it is compressed on the shaft 20b. It is obvious that the take-up can be accurately plotted and positioning of the contact members on the cylinder C done with extreme accuracy. It can now be readily seen that innumerable contac positions can be devised upon the inside cylindrical surface of cylinder C. By merely compressing coil 50 contact positions are changed. This ability to change contact positions by rotation or compression or both makes this invention extremely valuable in multiple contact switches designed to be compact.

While the invention has been described in connection with different embodiments thereof, it will be understood that it is capable of further modification, and this application is intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention following, in general, the principles of the invention and including such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which the invention pertains, and as may be applied to the essential features hereinbefore set' forth and fall within the scope of the invention or the limits of the appended claims.

case may be. Since Fig. 9 is merely an illustration of a Having thus described my invention what I claim is: 1;."A multiple contact switch comprising a casing, stationary contacts in the wall of :said casing, .a rotatable shaft supported by said casing, a rotatablejplate mounted on said shaft, a rotatable coil 'rotatablewith said plate in wiping engagement with said stationary contacts and having one end connected to said plate, a conducting disc secured tothe' bottom of said casing and having an annular groove therein, said coil having its other end free and in wiping engagement with said annular groove, means for compressing said coil linearly without rotation comprising a:'second'rotatablefshaft within said first mentioned shaft, said first shaft having a vertical slot, means associated with said second shaft projecting through said slot on said first shaft and engaging said plate, and means for rotating said shafts thereby causing. rotation of said coil and change of contact when said first shaft is rotated and compression of said coil and change of contact when said second shaft is rotated in one direction and expansion of said coil and change of contact when said second shaft is rotated in the other direction.

2. A multiple contact'switch as in claim 1 and wherein said means for rotating said shafts comprises a gear train and clutch.

3. A multiple contact switch as in claim 1, and wherein said coil comprises a plurality of helices.

4. A multiple contact switch as in claim 1, and wherein said second shaft and said plate are in threaded engagement.

5. A multiple contact switch as in claim 1, and wherein said second shaft is a helix, and having a movable pin within said helix and projecting through said helix and said vertical slot and engaging said plate.

6. A multiple contact switch comprising a casing, stationary contacts in the wall of said casing, a rotatable shaft supported by said casing, a rotatable plate mounted on said shaft, a rotatable contact coil rotatable with said plate in wiping engagement with said stationary contacts and having one end connected to said plate, a conducting disc adjacent the bottom of the casing, said coil having its other end secured to said disc, means for compressing said coil linearly without rotation comprising a second rotatable shaft within said first mentioned shaft, said first shaft having a vertical helical slot, means associated with said second shaft and projecting through said slot on said first shaft and engaging said plate, and means for rotating said shafts thereby causing rotation of said coil and'release of contact when said first shaft is rotated in one direction and close of contact when said first shaft is rotated in the other direction and compression of said coil and change of contact when said second shaft is rotated in one direction and expansion of said coil and change of contact when said second shaft is rotated in the other direction.

7. A multiple contact switch as in claim 6 and wherein said means for rotating said shafts comprises a gear train and clutch.

8. A multiple contact switch as in claim 6 and wherein said second shaft and said plate are in threaded engagement.

9. A multiple contact switch as in claim 6 and wherein said second shaft is a helix and having a movable pin within said helix and projecting through said helix and said vertical helical slot and engaging said plate.

10. A multiple contact switch as in claim 6 and wherein said coil comprises a plurality of helices.

11. A multiple contact switch comprising a cylindrical casing, stationary contacts projecting through said casing, a rotatable shaft supported by said casing, a rotatable contact coil supported by said shaft and rotatable therewith and having a portion of its marginal edge in wiping engagement with said stationary contacts, and means for compressing said coil linearly without rotation, whereby rotation or compression or both of said coil from one posi tion to another changes the electrical circuitry from one circuit to another.

l2. A multiple contact switch as in claim 11 and wherein said coil comprises a plurality of helices.

13. A multiple contact switch comprising a cylindrical casing, stationary contacts projecting through said casing, a rotatable shaft supported by said casing, a rotatable contact coil supported by said shaft and rotatable therewith and in wiping engagement with said stationary contacts, a conducting disc secured to the bottom of said casing, said' coil having one end free and in wiping engagement with said disc, and means for compressing said coil linearly without rotation, whereby rotation or compression or both of said coil from one position to another changes the electrical circuitry from one circuit to another.

14. A multiple contact switch as in claim 13 and Wherein said coil comprises a plurality of helices.

15'. A multiple contact switch comprising a cylindrical casing, stationary contacts projecting through said casing, a rotatable shaft supported by said casing, a rotatable contact coil supported by said shaft and rotatable therewith and having a portion of its marginal edge in wiping engagement with said stationary contacts, a conducting disc secured to the bottom of said casing, said coil having one end secured to said disc, and means for compressing said coil linearly without rotation, whereby rotation or compression or both of said coil from one position to another changes the electrical circuitry from one circuit to another.

16. A multiple contact switch as in claim 15 and wherein said coil comprises a plurality of helices.

17. A multiple contact switch as in claim. 15 and having means for taking up the slack of the coil when compressed.

18. A multiple contact switch as in claim 11 and having means for taking up the slack of the coil when compressed.

19. A multiple contact switch comprising a cylindrical casing, spaced stationary contacts mounted in the annular wall of said casing, a contact coil within said casing having the outside surface of said coil in wiping engagement with said stationary contacts, and the annular wall of said casing and means for compressing the coil linearly without rotation whereby compression of the coil from one position to another changes the electrical circuitry from one circuit to another.

20. A multiple contact switch as in claim 19 and having means for taking up the slack of the coil when compressed.

21. A multiple contact switch as in claim 19 and wherein said coil comprises a plurality of helices.

22. A multiple contact switch as in claim 11, and wherein said coil has means on said coil capable of lateral defiection.

23. A multiple contact switch as in claim 19, and wherein said coil has means on said coil capable of lateral deflection.

24. A coil for use in a multiple contact switch comprising a unitary tubular coil member of helical configuration, said coil member being slotted radially at spaced intervals providing individual integral spring fingers capable of independent lateral deflection.

25. A coil for use in a multiple contact switch comprising a first coil member, a second coil wound upon said coil member, said second coil having a series of alternating tightly wound and loosely wound turns, said tightly wound turns connecting said second coil member to said first coil member, whereby said loosely wound turns provide resilient contact members capable of independent lateral deflection.

26. A multiple contact switch comprising a non-conductive casing having an annular wall, a series of stationary electrical contacts mounted in the annular wall of said casing, a contact coil in wiping engagement with said electrical contacts, means for rotating said contact coil, and means for compressing said contact coil, whereby rotation or compression or both of said coil from one position to a ee another changes the electrical circuitry from one circuit to another. e 4

27. A multiple contact switch as in claim 26 and wherein said casing isa sealed container. I g y 28. A multiple contact switch as in claim 26 and having said coil in Wiping contact with the annular Wall of said casing and wherein said casing is a sealed container.

29. A multiple contact switch as in claim 26 and having said coil in wiping contact with the annular wall of said casing.

30. A multiple contact switch comprising a non-conductive casing having an annular Wall, a series of stationary electrical contacts mounted in the annular wall of said casing, an annular, flexible, resilient, expandable and contractable contact member in wiping engagement with said electrical contacts, means for rotating said contact member, and means for compressing said contact member, whereby rotation or compression or both of said member from one position to another changes the electrical circuitry from one circuit to another.

31. A multiple contact switch as in claim 30 and where- ,in said casing is a sealed container.

32. A multiple contact switch as inclaim 3d and haviingsaid member in wiping contact 'with the annular wan of said casing and wherein said casing is a sealed container. H

33. A'Vmultiple contactswitch as inc1airn30 and having said member in wiping contact with ,the'annular wall of said casing; 1 i

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,364,967 Victor an. 11, 1921 1,568,550 Gotte'sm'an Ian. 5, 1926 2,379,047 Thomas June 26, 1945 2,444,552 Brantingson July 6, 1948 2,455,137, Pennington Nov. 30, 1948 2,472,230 Rcinschmidt June 7, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS,

France May 8, 1925 

